Mainland woman Yeung Chak-yan, who threatened an ear, nose and throat specialist with a rape allegation after she spent the night with him six years ago unless he paid her HK$100,000, pleaded guilty in the District Court yesterday to blackmail and jumping bail. Yeung was arrested after the doctor, whose identity was suppressed by the court, reported the matter to police and was due to face court on May 23, 2008, but absconded. In mitigation, the defence said Yeung, now 43 and married for the third time, was suffering from depression at the time due to failed plastic surgery and was emotionally troubled. Sentencing was adjourned to March 28 and Yeung was remanded in custody.

Sotheby's sues bidder for failing to pay HK$6m

The Hong Kong branch of auction house Sotheby's launched legal action yesterday against Wang Yongjun, of Taiyuan, Shanxi, for failing to pay the HK$6.02 million he owed after making the winning bid on a Qing dynasty censer on October 5 last year. It is also claiming HK$609,600 in interest. The action brings to seven the number of claims the auction house has had to launch against winning bidders last year - six mainlanders and a Malaysian.

Minister urged to speed up hospital expansion

A HK$450 million project to expand Kwun Tong's United Christian Hospital from 1,400 beds to 1,700, which involved demolishing three blocks, building a new day care service block and expanding an existing block, would be completed in 2021, health minister Dr York Chow Yat-ngok told Legco. But lawmakers urged the government to speed up the work.

Tang baffled by failure of officials to contact wife

Chief executive candidate Henry Tang Ying-yen said he 'did not understand' why the Buildings Department said on Sunday it had been unable to contact his wife, Lisa Kuo Yu-chin, for the investigation into the illegal basement at her house in Kowloon Tong.

Conservation award for ban on trawling in HK

Chief Executive Donald Tsang Yam-kuen has won WWF International's 12th annual 'Leaders for a Living Planet' award in recognition of the government's contribution to marine conservation via its ban on trawling in Hong Kong waters.